Wednesday, August 7, 2013

A Facebook post by a local news station caught my eye today. It read, "Authorities in California say a man's leg was severed by flying shrapnel while watching an implosion today in Bakersfield, and is in danger of losing his other leg."

According to this sentence structure, the man's leg was watching the implosion and the man's leg is in danger of losing his other leg. We know that the news outlet meant that the man was watching the implosion and that he risks losing his other leg, but some readers may have had to take a second look.

News editors often use the passive verb structure, in this case "was severed," to avoid placing blame. ("A subject was shot by police" instead of "Police shot a man.") It's clear in this story that the flying shrapnel severed the man's leg, so the passive tense is unnecessary and sloppy.

Let's take a stab at revising the post: "Authorities in California say flying shrapnel severed a man's leg while he was watching an implosion today in Bakersfield. He risks losing his other leg as well."

Why should you ensure that your subjects agree, and use active verbs? Not just to appease grammar geeks like me! Here's why:

Active verbs make your writing more direct and exciting, and your calls to action clearer.

Subject agreement eliminates confusion. Yes, we may know what you intended to say, but subject confusion will make many fans re-read a post. Confusion drives down engagement in the form of retweets, favorites, likes and shares. (Although it might earn a comment or two from grammar-conscious folks.)

Social media is not an excuse for improper grammar. In fact, the short format and drive to create engagement make good grammar even more necessary!

What are your grammar pet peeves? Share a comment below or tweet @lpmikov.

About Me

Lauren Mikov is the founder and CEO of a social media agency specializing in Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and blog management for small businesses. I provide setup of new Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and account maintenance. I work with my clients to develop their unique social media strategy, and then monitor their channels to provide fast user feedback and maximize interactions. I also offer setup and maintenance of Facebook/Instagram ads, which are a great way to further build an online brand and increase exposure.
Do you want to hire someone to manage your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, blog or other social media account? You've come to the right place! Step on the social stage with me.